Beginner’s Mind
Dear Oyster Bay Yogis,
Happy January! Happy New Year! As we’re starting this year fresh, let’s return to the Buddhist practice of a “beginner’s mind.” When you arrive on your mat each time this month, remember what it felt like to begin practicing yoga (or any other wellness/contemplative practice). You didn’t know what you didn’t know, and that led to some unique feelings of nervousness, excitement, curiosity & delight as you explored new movements, breathwork and meditation techniques. Can you channel those feelings again, and begin to see your practice with fresh eyes?
Consider taking one of our Yoga Roots classes - where we always practice the fundamentals, a great place to start, and a great place to start again if you’ve fallen out of your practice through the holiday season.
Brand new to yoga? Check out our monthly Beginning Yoga Workshop on 1/28.
Been with us for years? Please, take a moment to fill out our annual survey - your feedback about the class schedule, our offerings, and the studio in general are so important to us.
Check out the rest of our great workshops and offerings this month below.
All my best wishes to you and your family for a happy, healthy 2024.
Namaste,
Amy
Pose of the Month
Dolphin Pose: Makara Adho Mukha Svanasana
This month at the studio we breakdown
Dolphin Pose: Makara Adho Mukha Svanasana.
Learn how best to practice this pose in any class all month long!
Sutra of the Month
Within every achievement, desire stands as the driving force. The vigor of your desire becomes the determining factor in the ease of reaching your goals, shaping your ability to overcome obstacles and reflecting your character. Understanding your inclinations and establishing a clear goal provides the roadmap to discover the level of intensity that renders the journey both enjoyable and sustainable. According to Patanjali, determination manifests at various levels within one's practice. Each day on the mat unfolds uniquely; some days call for a robust practice, while others invite rest and recovery. Regardless of our current stance, we are all progressing in the right direction. Consistent, steady effort proves to be the linchpin, emphasizing the importance of regularity over the intensity of your practice.
Oil of the Month
Our January OOTM is:
Lemon Eucalyptus
“Organic Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil is calming to the spirit with its sweet lemony aroma. It’s a wonderful air freshener and can help support a healthy respiratory system. Many people like to use Organic Lemon Eucalyptus when spending time outdoors in the warmer months as it may deter pests.
This is a USDA Certified Organic essential oil. That means that this oil is free from GMOs and the plants grow freely without the aid of synthetic fertilizers and in soil that is clean of prohibited substances, such as harmful pesticides. When you purchase a certified organic product, you are also helping to conserve biodiversity! This helps to ensure our natural landscapes and their ecosystems are maintained and intact for generations to come.” -Plant Therapy
Enjoy 20% off your purchase of Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil all month at the studio.
2024 Survey
We would like to hear from you! To better serve our wonderful community, we are asking you to fill out a short 4 minute survey on what you would like to see here at Oyster Bay Yoga. Your input helps shape what we offer at the studio and we very much value your opinion! We will be collecting responses through 1/14/24. If you share your contact information, you will receive a $5 credit on your account towards any purchase! Please send any additional feedback to our email: info@oysterbayyoga.com. Thank you!
Follow us to stay connected for upcoming events and news
Events
New Year’s Day All Levels Flow
Monday, January 1st
10:30-11:45am
with Sydney Matuszak
Let us all take that LEAP forward into the New Year.
This year is a leap year! One extra day in this year to become more aligned with who we want to be in our lives. How can we become more in tune with ourselves after the busyness of the season?
In this class, we’ll find ourselves in a lot of twists and folds as we look inward. Class will end with a 15 minute meditation practice to find stillness, which allows our minds to become quiet and cultivate mindfulness.
$25 to drop-in/FREE for members
Pajama Yoga
Friday, January 5th
6:30pm-7:30pm
with Diana Singh
Bring your little ones (ages 4-10) dressed in their pajamas to a fun and interactive yoga class! Class includes gentle stretches, games, and stories to help them wind down and prepare for a peaceful sleep. And to top it off, we'll provide milk & cookies for a sweet treat before bed. Don't miss out on this cozy and enjoyable experience!
Please sign up in advance for this event, space is limited.
$20 per child
Yin Yoga
Sunday, January 7th
2:00pm-3:15pm
with Martha Flanagan
Are you moving too fast?
Doing too many things at one time?
Too much "mind chatter" or just want to slow down?
Yin yoga can provide an antidote for this.
This class will guide you through a series of poses that are primarily done sitting and lying down. The poses are held for 2-5 minutes at a time to allow connective tissues (fascia, ligaments) to soften, lengthen and lubricate. A yin yoga practice compliments a yang practice and allows for a more balanced approach to life.
$25 to drop-in/FREE for members
Yoga Nidra
Friday, January 12th
7:00-8:30pm
with Nancy Rich
Yoga nidra is the art of conscious relaxation. You will learn techniques which will allow you to reach new states of conscious awareness with acute perception of both your physical and subtle body. As you practice these techniques you will feel the flow of prana move through physical, emotional, and energetic blockages. The end result is the healing of the body and mind and the expansion of consciousness.
The sessions are done laying down or sitting and are appropriate for EVERYONE, regardless of physical limitations.
Yoga Nidra allows us to heal deeply held patterns of energy in our bodies, manifest health and wellness, and consciously create whatever it is that we want to create for ourselves in this lifetime!
Experience the peace and joy that you are.
Nourish yourself in the many additional benefits of Yoga Nidra:
✦ Improves functioning of the immune system
✦ Lowers blood pressure
✦ Pain & inflammation reduction
✦ Helps to stabilize blood sugar
✦ Calms & cools the nervous system, while improving & stabilizing mood
✦ It treats insomnia, psychological disorders, & psychosomatic diseases.
✦ Relaxes the mind, relieving stress & anxiety
✦ Helps in enhancing memory & increases capacity for learning
✦ Relieves muscular, emotional & mental tension
✦ Results in increased energy levels
Please dress in comfortable layers and bring a bed pillow.
$45 per person (10% off for members)
Exploring the Mind: Pranayama, Prana & the Mind
Sunday, January 14th
2:00-4:00pm
with Martha Flanagan
Join Martha Flanagan for a three part series as we explore the mind through breath, mantra and meditation. Each workshop will be an illuminating journey to discover the depths of your mind and cultivate a sense of inner peace.
This first workshop will be an introduction into the practice and experience of awakening, directing, and stabilizing prana through the breath and body. The breath is the link that connects the mind with our body and subsequently our spirit. When we direct the flow of breath, we can control our thoughts and direct our mind. This will lead to a sense of freedom and peace.
All workshops will be 2 hours long. The classes will culminate in the sacred sound of the gong. This is a beginner friendly series. Please be prepared to sit for longer periods of time. If you’ve always wanted to delve in deeper with the mind, these gatherings are for you. Tea will be provided. There will also be 2 pre-recorded breathing exercises provided for those who attend the workshop to practice on their own after.
Feel free to attend one, some, or all sessions.
The dates for these workshops will be:
Sunday, January 14th
Sunday, February 4th
Sunday, March 3rd
$75 for Each Workshop
10% Off for Members
Tween Yoga
Monday, January 15th
6:00-7:00pm
with Sydney Matuszak
There’s one more day in the year this year, which means more time to play, laugh and have fun!
In this class, playful yoga games will help us center our minds on new goals we want to accomplish in the new year. We will work on changing our mindsets and use breathwork to calm the mind after the busy holiday season.
Come join in to see what we can create together!
$20 per child
Yin Yoga
Friday, January 19th
7:00-8:15pm
with Barbara Kataisto
Are you moving too fast?
Doing too many things at one time?
Too much "mind chatter" or just want to slow down?
Yin yoga can provide an antidote for this.
This class will guide you through a series of poses that are primarily done sitting and lying down. The poses are held for 2-5 minutes at a time to allow connective tissues (fascia, ligaments) to soften, lengthen and lubricate. A yin yoga practice compliments a yang practice and allows for a more balanced approach to life.
$25 to drop-in / FREE for members
Yoga Book Club
Sunday, January 21st
6:00-8:00pm
with Peggy Adair
Save the date for our next Yoga Book Club meet up! Get ready to move with Peggy Adair in a one hour all levels yoga flow. Following the yoga session, we'll delve into a book discussion on Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Bring all your insights on this remarkable book!
Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to nourish your body, expand your mind, and connect with like-minded individuals who share a love for both yoga and literature! Make sure to stop by our neighbors, Theodore's Books, and get a 15% discount on the book. Grab your mat, BYO drinks & snacks, and write down all your questions about our book pick!
$25 to drop-in/FREE for members
Beginner Yoga
Sunday, January 28th
2:00-3:15pm
with Angela Loomis
Do you want to start a yoga practice but don't know where to start? In this beginner class, we'll start with the basics, developing a better understanding of our body and our mind. You will quickly learn how good yoga can make you feel, physically and mentally, and how yoga can serve you on your wellness journey. Absolutely no experience required. Learn along with other beginners like yourself in a warm and welcoming environment.
$25 to drop-in/FREE for members
Exploring the Mind: Mantra & the Mind
Sunday, February 4th
2:00-4:00pm
with Martha Flanagan
Join Martha Flanagan for a three part series as we explore the mind through breath, mantra and meditation. Each workshop will be an illuminating journey to discover the depths of your mind and cultivate a sense of inner peace.
In this second workshop, you will experience yoga as seen through the lens of sound, frequency and vibration. Mantra is the vehicle with which we can reach silence. We can break habitual patterns through the use of Chanting, breath and focus. Man = mind and tra = train.
All workshops will be 2 hours long. The classes will culminate in the sacred sound of the gong. This is a beginner friendly series. Please be prepared to sit for longer periods of time. If you’ve always wanted to delve in deeper with the mind, these gatherings are for you. Tea will be provided.
Feel free to attend one, some, or all sessions.
The dates for these workshops will be:
Sunday, January 14th
Sunday, February 4th
Sunday, March 3rd
$75 for Each Workshop
$55 Early Bird Special (Ends 1/19)
10% Off for Members
Upcoming Events & Schedule Updates
EVENTS
New Year’s Day All Levels Flow: Monday, 1/1 at 10:30am with Sydney Matuszak
Pajama Yoga: Friday, 1/5 & the 1st Friday of each month at 6:30pm with Diana Singh
Yin Yoga: Sunday, 1/7 at 2:00pm with Martha Flanagan
Yoga Nidra: Friday, 1/12 at 7:00pm with Nancy Rich
Exploring the Mind: Pranayama, Prana and the Mind: Sunday, 1/14 at 2:00pm with Martha Flanagan
Tween Yoga: Monday, 1/15 at 6:00pm with Sydney Matuszak
Yin Yoga: Friday, 1/19 at 7:00pm with Barbara Kataisto
Yoga Book Club: Sunday, 1/21 at 6:00pm with Peggy Adair
Beginner Yoga: Sunday, 1/28 at 2:00pm with Angela Loomis
Exploring the Mind: Mantra and the Mind: Sunday, 2/4 at 2:00pm with Martha Flanagan
SCHEDULE UPDATES
Monday, January 1st: There will only be one class on this day. Sign up now for our 75 minute New Year’s Day All Levels Flow Class at 10:30am with Sydney Matuszak.
Tuesday, January 2nd: The 6:00am Sunrise Flow will be canceled. Regular schedule will resume on January 9th.
Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Until then, stay well,
Amy
